Switch operating alarm time



June l1, 1968 T. F. RING ET AL 3,387,452

SWITCH OPERATING ALARM TIMER Filed April 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l Illlllllllllllll ffl-YW I s A /l l ,Z3 /4 n 4/ unimi June 11, 1968 T F. RlNG ET AL 3,387,452-

SWITCH OPERATING ALARM TIMER Filed April 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /f ffl June 1l, 1968 T, F` RlNG EIT AL 3,387,452

SWITCH OPERATING ALARM TIMER Filed April 7, 1965 l 5 SheetS-Sheet 3 June l1, 1968 T. F. RING ET AL 3,387,452

` SWITCH VOPE'RAKIIXG ALARM TIMER Filed April 7, 1965 5 Sheets-.Sheet 4- f www@ f, L: ma awa #44 r/ i June ll, T. F'. RING ET AL v SWITCH OPERATING ALARM TIMER Filed April 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Arma/[r United States Patent O 3,387,452 SWITCH GPERATNG ALARM TIMER Thomas F. Ring, Raymond A. Keane, and Ralph C. Robinson, Athens, Ga., assignors to General Time Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 368,547, May 19, 1964. This application Apr. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 447,609

Claims. (Cl. 5S 21.155)

ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A rswitch operating and alarm timer in which a single cam times both a drowse interval, in which the alarm is temporarily silenced, and sleep intervals, in which the switch is operated for selected periods. A compound con-trol lever for the switch is used for func-tional vers-atility and to give substantial lever throw. A compact, frictionless and inexpensive control lever biasing arrangement is used.

Related case This -application is a continuation-impart of our copending application Ser. No. 368,547, tiled May 19, 1964, and now abandoned.

Description of the invention This invention relates to clock type timers and more particularly concerns a switch operating timer having an audible alarm mechanism.

Switch operating timers, perhaps most commonly seen in clock radios, have come into widespread use and have been adapted to perform a variety of functions in addition to displaying the time and operating a switch at a selec-ted moment. A modern full feature timer affords manual on/oif control of the switch, automatic operation of `the switch at a preselected time, automatic switch operation followed, after a predetermined delay, by energiation of an alarm, drowse operation in which a single pushbutton silences the alarm for a set in'terval without affecting the switch, and sleep operation .permitting the switch to be operated for selectable periods w-ithout disturbing the -other setting-s Of the timer. The addition of such features has tended to complicate timer designs, while the prospect of large scale manufacture has made it even more desirable to provide an economical, easily assembled unit.

It is therefore the primary aim of this invention to provide an improved full feature timer having the full range of on, off, auto, auto-alarm, sleep and drowse functions while retaining the advantages of economical construction and assembly. With more particularity, it is an object to provide a timer of the above kind in which the feature mechanisms are grouped in few subassemblies for economical manufacture, ease in modification by deleting features not needed in a particular application, and compact overall timer dimensions.

`An importan-t object of the invention is to provide a timer as characterized above that is substantially simplied as compared to earlier constructions. More specically, the timer of the invention utilies: a single cam land timing drive assembly for both -drowse and sleep functions; a compact, inexpensive spring arrangement for reliable, fric'tionless biasing of the control lever in the required two directions; a single alarm control lever embodying a self-setting capability; and a compound lever for switch control giving the required function versatility with a substantial lever throw for reliable operation.

Another object is to provide a timer of the above type that is quiet and smooth in operation and which pri- "ice marily u'tilies plastic on metal camming parts for enhancin-g quietness and smoothness.

ther objects and advantages of 'the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front or dial side elevation of a timer embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the timer shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken approximately along the line 3 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation taken along lthe line 4 4 in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary, partially diagrammatic, sections showing alternate operating positions of certain ones of the part-s of the timer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 8 8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 9 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 10 10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the line 11 11 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 12-412 in FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are fragmentary, partially diagrammatic, sections showing an alternate embodiment of the invention with the parts in dilferent operating positions illustrating the construction and operation of the embodiment.

While the Iinvention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, we intend to cover all alternatives, modications and equivalents as may be Iincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention as define-d by the appended claims.

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a timer 10 embodying the invention and including a front dial plate 1-1 bearing the usual clock face indicia. A conventional stack of hands including a second hand 12, a minute hand 13, lan hour hand 14 and van alarm indicator pointer 15 are mounted for rotation over the clock face indicia. Manual control of the functioning of the timer 10 is afforded by a rotatable knob 16 having four positions: ON, OFF, AUTO and ALARM or auto-alarm. The sleep function of the timer 10 is manually controlled by a rotatable knob 17 having both an O'FF position and a positionable angular range of movement along a scale marked from zero to sixty. The drowse function of the timer 10 is manually controlled by a slide 18 adapted to be depressed with :a pushbutton motion.

The -timer -10 includes a frame formed of front and rear plates 21 and 22, respectively, joined rigidly in spaced relation by a plurality of posts 23. The dial plate 11 is mounted on the front frame plate 21. The timer 1I)` is intended for control of an electrical circuit and, for that purpose, a switch 24 is mounted on the rea-r of the rear frame plate 22. The switch includes an operable element in the form of a slide 2-5 which, upon linear movement, is effective to open and close the switch contacts.

The timer 1li is powered and derives its accuracy from a synchronous motor 26 mounted on the rear of the rear frame plate 22 and provided with internal gearing driving an output pinion 27 that extends freely through the rear frame plate so las to drive a timing train positioned between the frame plates 21, 22. An audible alarm is provided by a buzzer type of vibrator 28 which is anchored by a bracket 29 on the rear of the rear frame plate 22 so that the vibrator extends, in cantilever supported fashion, into the magnetic field of the adjacent motor 26. If the vibrator 2S is not restrained, the eld of the motor 26 causes the vibrator 28 to vibrate with sufficient intensity to produce a loud, buzzing, alarm sound.

The timing train, see particularly FIG. 3, includes a second wheel 31 which meshes with the output pinion 27 and is secured to a pinion 32 that is fixed on a shaft 33 journaled in the frame plates 21, 22 and extend forwardly to support the second hand 12. The minute hand 13 is secured to a sleeve 34 rotatably fitted about the shaft 33 and carrying a pinion 35 on which is mounted a minute wheel 36. The minute wheel 36 is driven by a gear 37 which meshes with the pinion 32 and which rotates on, and with, an elongated pinion 38 that is journaled on a setting shaft 39. The minute wheel 36 meshes with the pinion 38 and a friction device 40 maintains a normal driving connection between the gear 37 and the pinion 38.

The hour hand 14 is mounted on 'a sleeve 41 which tits rotatably about the sleeve 34 and which carries an hour gear 42 that meshes with an pinion 43 that is rotatably supported on both the pinion 38 and a pinion 44 journaled in the front frame plate 21. The pinion 43 fixedly carries a gear 45 which meshes with the pinion 35 and, hence, connects the hour hand 14 to the motor output pinion 27.

The gear ratios for the timing train just described are of course selected so that the inherent synchronous speed of the motor output pinion 27 rotates the second hand 12 at one revolution per minute, the minute hand 13 at one revolution per hour, and the hour hand 14 at a rate of two revolutions per day, 'as is conventional in the art.

Pursuant to the invention, the switch 24 is operated by a compound control lever 50 (see also FIGS. 5-7) which is pivotally and tiltably mounted on a frame post 23 for swinging movement against, and tilting movement over, stepped cam surfaces on a cam l511 formed as la tab pressed rearwardly from the front frame plate 21 (note FIG. 3). The control lever 50 includes an element lever 52 that is operatively connected to the switch operating slide 25 and which is mounted on the control lever 50 in a resiliently established neutral position. The free end of the element lever 52 is bent upwardly to form la pair of ngers 53 which embrace the switch slide 25. The mounted end of the element lever 52 is formed with a slot that receives a pin 54 xed on the control lever 5t), and a compressed spring 55 extended between the control lever 50 and the element lever 52 urges the latter into its neutral position established by a stop tab 56 on the lever 50 and the engagement of the pin 54 in one end of the element lever slot.

It can therefore be appreciated that, from the resiliently established neutral position of the element lever 52 shown in FIG. 5, the element lever can be swung counterclockwise as seen in this figure relative to the control lever 50 by compressing the spring 55 and moving away from the tab 56. Counterclockwise movement of the element lever 52 is shown in IFIG. 7. The element lever can valso be iswung from its neutral position in a clockwise direction by compressing the spring 55- and pivoting the lever about the tab 56 with movement of the element slot relative to the pin 54. Such a clockwise disposition of the element lever 52 is shown in FIG. 6.

The control lever 50 also controls the alarm by cooperating with an alarm lever 60 pivoted in the frame plates 21, 22 (see FIG. 4) and having a linger 61 extending back and adjacent to the alarm vibrator 28. The alarm lever 60 is also formed with a camming tab 62 that is engaged by a corner 63 of the control lever 50. With the control lever corner `63 underlying the camming tab 62, the alarm lever linger 61 is pressed against the vibrator 28 so as to silence the alarm. This is the position of the parts shown in FIG. 5. Swinging movement of the control lever 50 ina counterclockwise direction so that the corner 63 clears the tab y62, the position shown in FIG. 6, allows the nger 61 to clear the vibrator 28 so that the latter is unrestrained and activated. The alarm lever 60 thus moves between an alarm-olf position shown in FIG. 5 and an alarm-on position shown in FIG. 6.

The stepped cam 51 has both an initial step 65 and a final step I66 which project through an opening 67 formed in the control lever 50 so that the edge of the opening 67 can rest on the steps 65, 66. The control lever 5t) has three alternate angular positions. The lirst and third positions are shown, respectively, in FIGS. 6 and 5 and an intermediate center position is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7. In its first position, FIG. 6, the control lever 50 is swung fully counterclockwise so that the corner 63 clears the tabs 62 on the alarm lever 66 with the result that the alarm sounds. In addition, the element lever 52 is pivoted 'about the tab l56 against the force of its positioning spring 55 and the switch slide 25 is moved to the left as seen in FIG. 6 so that the switch is operated and, in the preferred embodiment, is closed.

In this first position, the edge of the opening 67 which engages the steps 65, 66 is positioned below and out of possible engagement with the steps.

In its center position shown in dashed line in FIG. 7, the control lever 50 is swung clockwise from its FIG. 6, -lirst position until the lever corner 63 engages the camming tab 62 of the alarm lever 60 so that the alarm vibrator 28 is restrained and the alarm silenced. This movement of the control lever 60 is suiciently far to 4allow the spring 54 to swing the element lever 52 back to its resiliently established neutral position on the control lever, but the control lever is still at an angle which, through the element lever 52, holds the switch slide 25 in operated, :switch closed, position.

In this center position of the control lever 50, the edge of the opening y67 is alined with the final step 66 of the stepped cam 51.

In the third position of the control lever 50, lshown in FIG. 5, the control lever is swung clockwise so as to carry the element lever 52 also in -a clockwise direction sufiiciently far to shift the switch slide 25 to the nonoper'ated or switch opened condition.

In the third position of the control lever 50, the edge of the opening -67 that engages the cam 51 is alined with the initial step 65.

To summarize, with the control lever in its third, FIG.

5, position, the alarm is off and the switch held open.

Counterclockwise movement of the control lever to its center position closes the switch by shifting the slide 25 to the left, but the alarm remains oft. In the third, FIG. 6, position of the control lever the alarm is sounded `and the switch remains closed. It will be appreciated th'at movement of the control lever 50 between its iirst land second positions, while the element lever 52 remains in switch operating position, is made possible by the resilient mounting of the element lever on the control lever.

The control lever 50 is lbiased by a novel spring arrangement both counterclockwise, as seen in FIGS. 5 to 7, and towards the front frame plate, or downwardly as seen in FIG. 3. The spring arrangement includes a roller 71 pivoted on the outer end of a pin 72 rthat is fixed on the control lever 50. 'Ihe roller 71 is formed with a circumferential groove 73, and a spring wire 74 is anchored about one of the posts 2-3 and formed with an arm 75 that extends outwardly from the post 23 to engage the groove 73 on the roller 71. Preferably, the arm 75 is not disposed radially with respect to its mounting post, but rather the arm 75 bends sharply away from the pivot axis of the control lever 50. 'Ihe spring wire arm 75 is tensioned so as to exert both a counterclockwise force as seen in FIGS. 5-7 and a downward force as seen in FIG. 3, the downward force acting on the edge of the roller groove 73. The roller provides a virtually frictionless connection between the spring 74 and the control lever 50 so that the control lever can swing freely between its first, center and third positions with a continued application of force by the spring. Because of the bend in the arm 75, the direction of the force exerted by the spring wire 74 changes from almost radial in FIG. 5 to almost circumferential in FIG. 6, considered with respect to the pivot axis of the lever Sil, and thus the turning force exerted by the spring wire arm 75 on the control lever 50 becomes greater as the lever swings from its third to its first position. This is, of course, contrary to the conventional effect of a biasing spring and the increased force is useful in overcoming the effect of the positioning spring 55.

Manual control of the timer is obtained by a control shaft 80 pivoted in the frame plates 21, 22 and carrying cam and abutment members 81 and 82, respectively, which cooperate with the lower edge of the control lever 56. The shaft Sil carries the control knob 16 and, preferably, the came and abutment members 81, 82 are formed as integral parts of a plastic molding S3 that is fixed on the control shaft and is also formed with a short button 84 (see FIG. 3) which rides in a slot 8S (see FIG. 2) formed in the front frame plate 21 so that the intcrengagement of the button 84 with the ends of the slot establish limit positions for rotation of the control shaft 80 and the abutment members 81, 82.

In the illustrated embodiment, the control shaft 80 has four angular operative positions corresponding to the four positions illustrated for the rotatable knob 16. In describing the alternate operable positions of the control shaft 80 and the attached abutment and cam members S1, 82, reference will be made to FIGS. 5-7 and, since these figures show the rear of the front frame plate 21, it will be appreciated that the directions of rotation are reversed from the positions indicated for the knob 16 in FIG. 1.

In the first position of the control shaft 80, shown in FIG. 6, the abutment member 82 supports the lower edge of the control member and holds the latter in its first operating position. This is the ALARM or autoalarm position of the control knob. In the second position of the control shaft S0, one step clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 6, the abutment member 82 is moved upwardly to support the lower end of the control lever 50 so that the edge of the opening 67 is alined with the final step 66 on the stepped cam 51. This is the AUTO position of the knob 16 and the control shaft 80.

In the third position Aof the control shaft 30, shown in FIG. 5, the abutment member 82 is swung to its uppermost position and is effective to hold the control lever 50 with the edge of the opening 6-7 alined with the first step 65 of the stepped cam 51. This is the OFF position of the knob 16 and the control shaft. In the fourth position of the control shaft 80, the control shaft and the cam member S1 are swung clockwise through a further angle as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7 so that the cam member lifts the control member 50 from the front frame plate 21, thereby insuring clearance of the control member from the stepped cam 51 and allowing the control lever to slide over the cam member 81 under the urging of the spring 74 in its counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 5-7. The control lever slides over the cam member 81 until the lower edge of the lever abuts the abutment member 82 which holds the lever in its first position. This is the ON position of the knob 16 and the control shaft 80.

In summary then, the first position of the control shaft 80, that shown in FIG. 6, allows the control lever 50 to swing to its` iirst position wherein Iboth the switch 24 is operated and the alarm lever released so as to sound the alarm. In the second position of the control shaft 80, the control lever 50 cannot rotate beyond its center position under the urging of the spring 74 and hence the alarm cannot be sounded although the switch 24 may be operated. In the third position of the control shaft 80, that illustrated in FIG. 5, the control lever 50 is held in its third position so that the alarm stays off and the switch 24 is not operated. In the fourth position of the control Shaft 80, the cam member 8,1 acts to lift the control lever 5()y over the stepped cam 51 and the control lever swings counterclockwise as seen in FIGS. 5-7 until it strikes the abutment member 82 which in this position of the control shaft 80, holds the control lever Si) in its center position with the switch 24 operated and the alarm 0E.

To provide a detenting action establishing the four alternate positions for the control shaft 80, a spring 87 is anchored at its ends against the rear surface of the front frame plate 21 so that the spring resiliently presses on the end of the molding 83. Thet spring S7 is bent at three points 88 (see FIG. 2) so as to define depressions on opposite sides of the points which receive the end of the molding 33 and detent the control shaft 80 in its four alternate angular operating positions.

For providing preselected time operation of the timer, the control lever '50 is acted on by the hour wheel 42 which is axially slidable and formed with cam abutments 191 (see FIG. 3) that cooperate with corresponding abutments 192 formed on an alarm gear 193 which is fixed to a sleeve 194 rotatably fitted about the sleeve 41 and journaled in the front frame plate 21. The sleeve 194 carries the alarm pointer 15 and, at a time determined by the setting of the alarm gear 193, the abutments 191, 192 come into contact and slide the hour wheel 42, together with its sleeve 41, axially on the underlying sleeve 34 so as to push the control lever 50' from the stepped cam 51; the edge of the opening 67 falling first from the step 65 and then from the final step 66.

In operation, rotation of the control shaft from its third, FIG. 5, OFF position counterclockwise to its first, FIG. 6, ALARM position leaves the control lever 50 latched in its third position with the edge of the opening 67 hung on the first step 65 of the stepped cam 51. At the time selected by positioning the alarm gear 193, the hour wheel 42 begins to slide axially so as to exert a tilting force on the control lever 50. At the preselected moment, the control lever is pushed so that the edge of the opening 67 clears the first step 65 and the control lever is swung counterclockwise to its center position, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7, withthe edge of the opening 67 being caught and held by the final step 66 of the cam 51. In this position of the control lever 50 the switch 24 is operated but the alarm is still held in non-operated condition. After a further elapsed time required for the sloping abutments 191, 192 to produce additional axial movement of the hour wheel 42, preferably an interval on the order of 8 or 9 minutes, the control lever l50 is lifted from 'the final step 66 and the spring 74 swings thepcontrol lever to its first FIG. 6, position where it rests against the abutment member 82. In this position of the control lever, the switch 24 remains operated and the alarm number 60 is released so as to sound the alarm.

The position of the alarm gear 193 is selected by manipulating the setting shaft 39 which (see FIG. 3) is axially slidable and formed with a lug 195 adapted to be received within a slotted end formed on the pinion 44. Thus, downward movement of the setting shaft 39 as seen in FIG. 3, and rotation of this shaft, is effective to set the angular position of the alarm gear 193 and thus the moment at which the timer 10 automatically acts to operate the switch 24 and sound the alarm vibrator 28. Upward movement of the setting shaft 39 brings the lug 195 into engagement with a slotted end formed on the pinion 3S and, in this position of the parts, rotation of the setting shaft is effective to rotate the pinion 33 so as to set the time indicating hands 13, 14. The frictional gripping device 40 prevents this setting movement of the timing train from being carried back into the internal gears of the synchronous motor 26.

In carrying out the invention, a single cam 9() secured on a shaft 91 journaled in the frame plates 21, 22I (see FIG. 8) is arranged to provide both drowse and sleep functions in the timer 10. The cam 90 has a rest or off position from which it can be turned in an operating d1- rection, which is clockwise in FIGS. and 11, by the knob 17. For this purpose, the knob 17 is carried on an auxiliary control shaft 93 that is journaled in the frame plates 21, 22 and which carries a gear 94 coupled to a gear 95, secured to the cam 90, through an idler gear 96 that is journaled on the front frame plate 21 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). A lug 97 is formed integrally with the cam 90 and is extended forwardly through an arcuate slot 9S formed in the front frame plate 21 so that the lug 97, abutting the ends of the slot 93, defines the limit positions through which the cam 90 can be rotated. The rest or off limit position of the cam 90 is illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 9-11.

To slowly drive the cam 90 back to its rest position when it is displaced by the knob 17, and thus provide a useful time delay interval, a slip clutch is provided comprising a solid disc 101 secured to the pinion 43 (see FIGS. 3 and 12) and pair of friction plates 102 secured to the cam 90 by projections 103 formed integrally with the cam and passing through the plates 102 (see also FIG. 8). The plates 102 are held together by an annula; spring 104 anchored by a shoulder on the stub shaft 91 and pressing the plates 102 together against the carn 90. The plates 102 are formed with a notch 10S in their periphery leaving a gripping edge adapted to engage the periphery of the disc 101 and which is formed with tapered edge iianges 106 at one end. The disc 101, being secured to the pinion 43, is steadily driven by the timing train of the timer 10 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 1l and l2. With the cam 90 in its normal or rest position, the disc 101 rotates within the notch 105 out of contact with the plates 102. Rotation of the cam 90 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 10-12, swings the gripping edge of the plates against the periphery of the disc 101 and at the end flanges 106 spread the plates so that they frictionally engage the opposite sides of the disc 101 and in this way establish a driving connection between the disc 101 and the cam 90. Therefore, when the knob 17 is positioned and released, continued rotation of the disc 101 gradually returns the cam counterclockwise to its rest position.

The speed of the disc 101 and the range of movement permitted the cam 90 by the slot 98 is such, in the preferred embodiment, that return movement of the cam from one limit position to the other requires an interval of 60 minutes. However, the frictional nature of the slip clutch between the timing train and the cam permits setting of the cam to start a. delay interval of any desired duration between zero and 60 minutes. The frictional engagement between the plates 102 and the disc 101 also allows the knob 17 to be manually turned and set in either direction so that there is always a manual override to the delay interval required to return the cam 90 to its rest position.

For providing the sleep function, the cam 90 is provided with a portion 110 which cooperates with an edge 111 of the element lever 52 (see FIGS. 5-7, 8 and 11). With the cam 90 in its rest position, the edge 111 clears the cam portion 110 so as to permit the control lever 50 to swing between its opposite first and third limit positions illustrated respectively in FIGS. 5 and 6. With the control lever 50 in its third position, as shown in FIG. 5, and held there either through engagement with the edge of the opening 67 against the step 65 or by engagement of the control lever with the abutment member S2 in its OFF position, rotation of the knob 17 from its OFF position turns the cam 90 clockwise as shown in FIG. 5 so that the cam portion 110 engages the element lever edge 111 and swings the element lever counterclockwise to its FIG. 7 position wherein the switch slide 25 is moved to the left and the switch 24 is operated. The cam portion 110 has a circular periphery with respect to its pivot axis, the shaft 91, and hence the element lever 52 is held so as to operate the switch 2d in all of the settable positions of the cam between the Zero and sixty minute time delay provided. Counterclockwise swinging movement of the lement lever 52 under the urging of the cam portion is, of course, permitted by the resilient mounting of the element lever on the control lever 50, and hence initiation of the sleep function by rotation of the cam 90 does not interfere with the setting or position of the control lever 5G itself.

It will now be apparent that manual rotation of the knob 17 into the time delay interval swings the cam 90 so as to close the switch 24 for the period required by the slip clutch to drive the cam 90 back to its neutral position, as shown in FIG. 5.

For providing the drowse function, the cam 90 is provided with a wedge shaped portion 112 which cooperates with a plate-like extension 113 that is xed to the alarm lever 60 (see FIGS. 8 and 10). In the illustrated construction, the alarm lever extension 113 is formed with a center opening 114 which surrounds the cam 90 and includes a cam edge with a drop-off point 11S that acts in conjunction with the wedge shaped portion 112 of the cam 90. Rotation of the cam 90 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 10 swings the cam portion 112 over the drop-off point 115 so as to pivot the alarm lever extension 113 from its solid-line position to the dashedline position shown in this figure, with the result that the alarm lever 60 is carried clockwise to its alarm-off position in which the vibrator 28 is restrained against vibration. In the manner previously described, this clockwise rotation of the cam 90 brings the friction clutch comprising the plates 102 and the disc 101 into engagement so that the cam is timed out or driven counterclockwise at a steady rate. When the cam portion 112 passes the dropoif point 115, the alarm lever extension 113 is released for return movement to its solid line FIG. 10 position and this frees the vibrator 28 so as to sound the alarm.

The drowse actuator slide 18 is adapted to initiate the drowse interval by being formed with a cam surface 117 (see FIG. 11) that engages the portion 110 of the cam 90 so as to rotate the cam to a drowse interval angle when the slide 18 is depressed. In the illustrated construction, the slot 18 has one edge mounted on a stud 118 and the opposite elongated edge slidably titted between the cam 90 and one of the posts 23. A torsion spring 119 is anchored about the stud 118 and tensioned to hold the slide in extended position, up in FIG. 2 and to the right in FIG. 11. Manual depression of the slide 18 against the resistance of the spring 119 causes the cam edge 117 to engage the portion 110 of the cam 90 so as to swing the cam from the solid line position shown in FIG. 11 to the dashed-line position shown in that gure. This predetermined amount of rotation of the cam 90 brings the friction clutch discs 102 into their drowse position indicated in FIG. 12 and establishes a predetermined drowse time interval which is required for the disc 101 to return the plates 102, and hence the cam 90, to their rest position. Preferably, the drowse interval is on the order of 9 or l0 minutes. During this time, the cam portion 112 holds the alarm lever extension 113 in its dashed-line, FIG. l0, position with the result that the alarm is silenced for the drowse period.

As a further feature of the invention, the opening 114 in the alarm lever extension 115 is formed with a shoulder 120 positioned to engage the portion 112 of the cam 90 so that movement of the alarm lever 60 from its alarm-on position to, and beyond, its alarm-off position is elective to rotate the cam 90 to its drowse interval angle. That is, initiation of the drowse interval can be accomplished without the slide 1S by exerting a manual force against the alarm lever 60 so as to rotate this lever in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 10. This brings the shoulder 120 of the alarm lever extension `113 against the portion 112 of the cam 90 so as to rotate the cam 90 to its dashed-line, FIG. l0, position which,

in the manner described above, initiates the drowse interval. As best seen in FIG. 4, the alarm lever 60 presents a relatively wide surface for receiving a drowse interval initiating force in the event that movement in this direction is desired in a particular application rather than actuation of the slide 18. ln such a timer application, the slide 18 may be simply left out of the asse ibly.

To briefly summarize the operation of the timer 10, rotation of the knob 16 to the ON position turns the control shaft 8G fully clockwise as seen in FIGS. 5-7 to the fourth position of the cam and abutment members 81, 82. When so positioned, the cam member 81 4lifts the control lever t) clear of the stepped cam 51 so that the spring 74 can rotate the control lever counterclockwise against the abutment member 82, which holds the control lever in its central position indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 7. When so positioned, the switch 24 is operated and the alarm is held silent. Rotation of the knob 16 to the OFF position moves the parts to their FIG. 5 positions where the abutment member 82 holds the control lever 5f) in its third, or fully counterclockwise, position wherein the switch 24 is not operated and the alarm remains silenced. With the control lever so positioned, the edge of the opening 67 is aligned with the first step 65 of the stepped cam 51 and the force of the spring 74 tilts the control lever 5t) so that the control lever becomes hooked up or latched onto the step 65.

Movement of the knob 16 to the AUTO position swings the abutment 82 to its second position wherein it engages and holds the control lever 50 in its center position when the latter is urged from the first step 65. Further movement of the knob 16 to the ALARM or auto-alarm position, the first position of this control, swings the abutment member 82 to the FIG. 6 position so as to allow the control lever 5t) to not only fall from the step 65 to the step 66, but also to drop off the step 66 and assume its first position, wherein both the switch 24 is operated and the alarm is sounded.

With the knob 16 in its AUTO or ALARM positions, the control lever 5t) is affected by axial movement of the hour wheel 42 at the preselected time indicated by positioning of the alarm gear 193. When the abutment portions 191, 192 come together, the hour wheel 4Z tilts the control lever 50 first from the first step 65 so that the control lever drops to the second step 66, This movement of the control lever from its third to its center position operates the switch 24 but continues to hold the alarm in its silent condition. Continued axial movement of the hour wheel 4-2 drops the control lever from the final step 66 and the control lever moves to its first position, assuming the knob 16 is in the ALARM position, wherein the switch 24 remains operated and the alarm is sounded. This further lmovement of the alarm lever 5t) is permitted by the resilient mounting of the element member 52 on the control member.

Even though the knob 16 is in its OFF position or the control member 50 is latched on the step 65, rotation of the knob 17 turns the cam 90 so that the cam portion 110 swings the element lever 52 from its FIG. 5 to its FIG. 7 position, thereby operating the switch 24 and initiating the sleep function. The switch will remain operated for the interval required by the slip clutch plates 102 to be driven by the disc 101 back to their neutral position and this time is determined by the setting of the knob 17 between its zero and sixty minute positions.

Once the control lever 50 has swung to its first, FIG. 6, position, allowed by positioning of the knob 16 in its ALARM position, sounding of the alarm can be halted for a predetermined drowse interval by depression of the slide 18. This rotates the cam 90 so that the cam portion 112 swings the alarm .lever extension 113 from its solid to its dashed-line position shown in FIG. with the result that the alarm lever 60 is swung sufliciently far to restrain the alarm vibrator 28. The alarm remains silenced for the interval required by the disc 101 to return the 1Q cam to the neutral position through the frictional engagement with the plates 192. The drowse interval can also be initiated by manually rotating the alarm lever 60 through the interaction of the shoulder 120 with the p0rtion 112 of the cam 9i).

Preferably, the molding 83 and the cam 90 are both formed of tough plastic material so that the sliding surfaces in the timer 1t) comprise low friction, plastic-onmetal interengagement.

The combining of both the sleep and drowse function in the single cam 9G produces a particularly economical and compact construction, and it can be readily seen that the timer 1t) may be modified by deleting either the knob 17 and its associated structure if the sleep function is not desired, or the slide 1S and the alarm lever extension 113 if the drowse function is not desired in a particular application. Because of the grouping of the timer parts in a few subassemblies, a particularly compact construction has been achieved, and the subassembly type of design also permits economical production.

A Slightly modified form of the invention having a further practical advantage is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, wherein parts corresponding to those previously described have been given the same reference numerals with the distinguishing suffix a added. The modified timer includes frame plates 21a and 22a held in spaced relation by a number of posts 23a, on one of which a compound control lever Sa is rotatably and tiltably mounted. The control lever is biased by a spring wire 74a and carries an element lever 52a whose one end embraces a switch slide 25a and whose other end is formed with a slot fitted on a pin 54a that is fixed on the lever 50a.

A compressed spring 55a biases the element lever to the left in the drawings against a stop tab 56a bent from the control lever 50a so that the spring resists rotation of the element lever whether the element lever swings counterclockwise about the pin 54a, or the pin 54a and its surrounding slot move relatively and the element lever swings counterclockwise about the stop tab. Movement of the element lever 52a shifts the switch slide 25a between its operated and nonoperated positions, illustrated respectively by the solid line showings in FIGS. 13 and 14. Manual control of the modified timer is obtained through a control shaft Stia pivoted in the frame plates 21a, 22a and carrying an abutment member 82a that cooperates with the lower edge of the control lever 56a in the same manner as the corresponding parts Sti and 82 cooperate in the first described embodiment. The abutment member 82a is formed as part of a molding 83a fixed on the shaft Stia and it will be noted that, in this embodiment, there 1s no cam member corresponding to the member 81 in the above described embodiment. The control shaft a has the same four positions considered above including the fully clockwise ON position and, moving in a counterclockwise direction, OFF, AUTO and ALARM positions.

The control lever Stia cooperates with an hour wheel 42a, a stepped cam 51a, an alarm lever 60a and a drowse and sleep function cam 96a in the same manner as the corresponding parts function in the timer 10 discussed in detail above.

As a feature of this modification of the invention, the element lever 52a includes a finger 125 which extends into the path of the control shaft abutment member 82a so that rotation of the control shaft 89a fully clockwise into the ON position causes the abutment member 82a to strike the finger 125, rotate the element lever 52a counterclockwise about the pin 54a, and thus shift the switch slide 25a leftward to the operated position. The ON position of the parts is shown in FIG. 14. Rotation of the control shaft 86a back to the OFF position, that illustrated in FIG. 13, allows the spring 55a to swing the element lever 52a clockwise and return the switch slide 25a to its nonoperated position.

It will be noted that movement of the control shaft 86a between OFF and ON positions does not affect the control lever 50a, which remains held by the abutment member 82a. In this embodiment, the control shaft 80a and its molding 83a perform no camming function. Signiticantly less force is required to rotate the element lever by direct engagement with the abutment member 82a than is required to cam the control lever 50 with the cam member 81 in the first described embodiment, primarily because of the greater leverage exerted lby springs 74 and 74a as compared to that exerted by the springs S and 55a. Since less force is required to rotate the control shaft 80a to ON position, better detenting and more reliable positioning of the control shaft is attained.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a timer having a driven timing train, an alarm and an operable element all mounted in a frame, the combination comprising, stepped cam surfaces formed on said frame, a control lever pivotally and tiltably mounted on said frame for swinging movement against and tilting movement over said stepped cam surfaces, means biasing said control lever toward said cam surfaces, a `control shaft journaled in said frame and carrying an abutment member adapted to engage said control lever upon rotation of said control shaft, said control shafts having their angular positions including a rst angular position in which said abutment member allows the control lever to swing to one limit position, a second angular position in which said abutment member holds the control lever angularly spaced from said limit position and tiltably alined with a final step of said cam surfaces, and a third angular position in which said abutment member holds the control lever angularly spaced from said tinal step tiltably alined with an initial step of said cam surfaces, said timing train including an alarm `cam for tilting said control lever first from said initial step and then from said iinal step at a preselected time while normally allowing the control lever to be biased against and supported by the step to which it has been alined, first means including said control lever for holding said alarm deenergized in all positions of the control lever but said limit position, and second means including said control lever for holding said element in operated condition in all positions of the control lever but that alined with said initial step.

2. `In a timer having a driven timing train, an alarm and an operable element all mounted in a frame, the combination comprising, stepped cam surfaces formed on said frame, a control lever pivotally and tiltably mounted on said frame for swinging movement against and tilting movement over said stepped cam surfaces, means biasing said control lever toward said cam surfaces, a control shaft journaled in said frame and carrying cam and abutment members adapted to engage said control lever upon rotation of said control shaft, said control shaft having four angular positions including a rst angular position in which said abutment member allows the control lever to swing to one limit position, a second angular position in which said abutment member holds the control lever angularly spaced from said limit position and tiltably alined with a final step of said cam surfaces, a third angular position in which said abutment member holds the control lever angularly spaced from said nal step and tiltably alined with an initial step of said cam surfaces, and a fourth angular position in which said cam member tilts the control member from said cam surfaces and said abutment member holds the control lever alined with said final step, said timing train including an alarm cam for tilting said control lever tirst from said initial step and then from said final step at a preselected time while normally allowing the control lever to be biased against and supported by the step to which it has been alined, first means including said control lever for holding said alarm deenergized in all positions of the control lever but said limit position, and second means including said control lever for holding said element in operated 12 condition in all positions of the control lever but that alined with said initial step.

3. In a timer having a driven timing train and rst and second operable elements mounted in a frame, the combination comprising, a control lever pivotally mounted in said frame and having lirst, central and third adjacent angular positions, means including a control shaft for moving said control lever into selected ones of said positions, an element lever operatively connected to said operable element and mounted in a resiliently established neutral position on said control lever, said control and element levers being proportioned to hold said rst element in non-operated condition when the control lever is in said third position and said element lever is in said neutral position, said control and element levers being proportioned to hold said first element in operated condition when the control lever is in said central position and said element lever is in said neutral position, and means for moving said element lever from neutral position so as to hold said first element in operated condition when the control lever is in said third position, said control lever and said second element having interengaging portions holding the second element in non-operated condition except when the control lever is in said first position, said resilient mounting of said element lever allowing the control lever to pivot to said first position and operate said second element while the element lever is restrained by holding said rst element in operated condition.

4. In a timer having a driven timing train, an alarm and an operable element all mounted in a frame, the combination comprising, a control lever pivotally mounted in said frame and having iirst, central and third adjacent angular positions, means including a control shaft and said timing train for moving said control lever into selected ones of said positions, an element lever operatively connected to said operable element and mounted in a resiliently established neutral position on said control lever, said control and element levers being proportioned to hold said element in non-operated condition when the control lever is in said third position and said element lever is in said neutral position, said control and element levers being proportioned to hold said element in operated condition when the control lever is in said central position and said element lever is in said neutral position, means for moving said element lever from neutral position so as to hold said element in operated condition when the control lever is in said third position, and an alarm lever mounted on said frame for movement between alarm-off and alarm-on positions, said alarm and control levers having interengaging portions holding the alarm lever in alarm-off position except when the control lever is in said first position, said resilient mounting of said element lever allowing the control lever to pivot to said first position while the element lever is restrained by holding said element in operated condition.

5. In a timer having a frame, the combination comprising, stepped cam surfaces formed on said frame, a control lever pivotally and tiltably mounted on said frame for swinging movement against and tilting movement over said cam surfaces, means controlled by swinging movement of said lever, means for tilting said lever, a roller pivoted on said control lever and having a circumferential groove therein, and a spring wire anchored on said frame and having a projecting arm received in said groove, said arm being tensioned so as to bias said lever toward said cam surfaces in both said tilting and said swinging directions.

6. In a timer having a driven timing train and an alarm mounted in a frame, the combination comprising, an alarm lever mounted on said frame for movement between alarm-olf and alarm-on positions, a cam journaled in said frame for rotation in an operating direction from a rest position, a slip clutch driven by said timing train for steadily returning said cam to said rest position when the cam is turned in said operating direction, said cam having a drowse portion effective to move said alarm lever to alarm-ofi position when said cam is rotated through a rst angle from said rest position, said cam drowse portion and said alarm lever being formed so that movement of said alarm lever from alarmon position to and beyond alarm-oiiC position is effective to rotate said cam to said first angle, and a drowse control for selectively rotating said cam to said rst angle.

7. In a timer having a driven timing train, an alarm and an operable element all mounted in a frame, the combination comprising, an element lever resiliently mounted with respect to said frame and operatively connected to said operable element, an alarm lever mounted on said frame for movement between alarm-olf and alarm-on positions, a cam journaled in said frame for rotation in an operating direction from a rest position, a slip clutch driven by said timing train for steadily returning said cam to said rest position when the cam is turned in said operating direction, said cam having a drowse portion effective to move said alarm lever to alarm-oit position when said cam is rotated in said operating direction through a first angle from said rest position, said cam having a sleep portion eifective to move said element lever against the bias of its resilient mounting so as to hold said element operated when said cam is rotated through said first angle and up to a second angle, a sleep control for selectively rotating said cam, and a drowse control for selectively rotating said cam to said first angle.

8. In a timer having a driven timing train, an alarm and an operable element all mounted in a frame, the

combination comprising, an element lever resilientlyv mounted with respect to said frame and operatively connected to said operable element, an alarm lever lmounted on said frame for movement between alarm-ofi and alarm-on positions, a cam journaled in said frame for rotation in an operated direction from a rest position, .-a slip clutch driven by said timing train for steadily returning said cam to said rest position when the cam is turned in said operating direction, said cam having a drowse portion effective to move said `alarm lever to alarm-orf position when said cam is rotated in said operating direction through a first angle from said rest position, said cam having a sleep portion eective to move said element lever against the bias of its resilient mounting so as to hold said element operated when said cam is rotated through said iirst angle and up to a second angle, a sleep control for selectively rotating said cam, and a drowse control for selectively rotating said cam to said first angle, said cam drowse portion and said alarm lever being formed so that movement of said alarm lever from alarm-on position to and beyond alarm-off position is effective to rotate said cam to said .rst angle.

9. In a timer having 4a frame, the combination comprising, stepped cam surfaces formed on said frame, a control lever pivotally and tiltably mounted on said frame for swinging movement against and tilting movement over said cam surfaces, means controlled by swinging movement of said lever, means for tilting said lever, a roller pivoted on said control lever and having a circumferential groove therein, and a spring wire anchored on said frame and having a projecting arm received in said groove, said arm being tensioned so as to bias said lever toward said calm surfaces in both said tilting and said swinging directions, said arm also being bent away from the pivot of said control lever so as to change the direction in which the biasing force of said arm acts on the lever from approaching radial to approaching circumferential.

10. In a timer having a driven timing train, an alarm and an operable element all mounted in a frame, the combination comprising, stepped cam surfaces formed on said frame, a control lever piv-otally and tiltably mounted on said frame for swinging movement against and tilting movement over said stepped cam surfaces, an element lever operatively connected to said operable element and mounted in a resiliently established neutral position on said control lever, means biasing said control lever toward said cam surfaces, a control shaft journaled in said frame and carrying an abutment member adapted to engage said control lever and said element lever upon rotation of said control shaft, said control shaft having four angular positions including a first angular position in which said abutment member allows the control lever to swing to one limit position, a second angular position in which said abutment member holds the control lever angularly spaced from said limit position and tiltably alined with a final stepI of said cam surfaces, a third angular position in which said abutment member holds the control lever angularly spaced from said nal step and tiltably alined with an initial step of said cam surfaces, and a fourth angular position in which said abutment member engages and swings said element lever so as to operate said element, said timing train including an alarm cam for tilting said control lever first from said initial step and then from said tinal step at a preselected time while normally allowing the control lever to be biased against and supported by the step to which it has been alined, and tirst means including said control lever for holding said alarm deener-gized in all positions of the control lever but said limit position, said element lever being mounted for holding said element in operated condition in all positions of the control lever but that alined with said initial step.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,441 10/1955 Boyles Sti- 21.155

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Prim'ary Examiner.

M. LORCH, E. C. SIMMONS, Assistant Examiners. 

